Crinum stuhlmannii fruits

This cluster of healthy-looking fruit of Crinum stuhlmannii was found lying down in the Kruger National Park in January, too heavy for the ostensibly sturdy scape. Right next to it another peduncle was sporting a large inflorescence of open trumpet flowers and buds, fortunately still erect (also shown in this Album).

C. stuhlmannii is a deciduous perennial growing from a large bulb that may over years develop into a cluster of three or four. The bulb is enveloped by layers of a fibrous tunic.

Inside the slightly beaked fruits seen here, several globose white seeds are preparing for life on their own.

The distribution of the species in South Africa ranges from KwaZulu-Natal to Mpumalanga and Limpopo where it grows in grassland and bushveld at low altitude warm climate in sandy soil. It is also found in Namibia, the Zambezi valley and East Africa.

The plant used to be called C. delagoense and C. forbesii respectively earlier in its history of botanical classification and reporting. C. graminicola is another similar species. There may still be some reclassification events among these names in the future (iSpot; www.redlist.sanbi.org; www.plantzafrica.com; www.shieldsgardens.com).